NOVA & Darlow Smithson to Produce New Science Doc

NEW YORK: The science strand NOVA has commissioned Darlow Smithson Productions to produce A Journey Through the Solar System: Life Beyond Earth.

The two-hour long special will feature leading astrobiologists, including Chris McKay of NASA’s Ames Research Centre, explaining how recent scientific advances and discoveries are changing the understanding of what life is and where it can take hold. The documentary will include a mix of the latest spacecraft images, as well as CGI sequences.

Ben Bowie, the senior executive producer of Darlow Smithson Productions, said: “We look to create programs that resonate with large audiences, and almost everyone wonders about life on other planets. It’s an exciting time for those investigating our solar system, with dozens of missions and experiments taking place. For this documentary we wanted to offer a window into this exploration, taking stock of what we know, what we think we know, and what we may soon find out.”

“There is a revolution taking place in planetary science,” added Howard Swartz, the executive producer of NOVA. “The idea that the planets and moons in our solar system are cold and dead is giving way to the possibility that many places may actually be habitable for some forms of life.”